Strasbourg, 07/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - In a joint resolution from the EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA and ECR Groups, adopted in plenary on Thursday 7 July in Strasbourg, on the preparations with a view to Russian legislative elections in December, the European Parliament urges Russian authorities to “guarantee free and fair elections”.
Underlining the fact that the unwieldiness of registration procedures for political parties in registering for elections in Russia, and their non-conformity with the European Convention on Human Rights, had been denounced on 12 April this year by the European Court of Human Rights, the Parliament reiterates its concern about the difficulties political parties encounter when registering for voting on Duma renewal. Such difficulties “effectively constrain political competition in Russia, reduce the choice available to its electorate and show that there are still real obstacles to political pluralism in the country”. MEPs also deplore that Russian legislative elections should be based on the implementation of election standards set by the Council of Europe and the OSCE. It urges Moscow to allow the OSCE or the Council of Europe to set up a long-term election observation mission and to fully cooperate with this mission, and presses EU High Representative Catherine Ashton to organise a mission to this end. Finally, the Parliament states its concern over the proposal for a law that the Duma is to examine, and which would allow Russian courts not to take into account decisions by the European Court of Human Rights in certain areas. MEPs, however, welcome the Duma's decision not to consider this draft law for the time being and hope it will finally renounce this initiative. In a whereas to its resolution, the Parliament points out that a number of concerns remain regarding the situation of human rights and compliance with democratic principles, rules and procedures in Russia, although the latter is a full member of the Council of Europe, of the OSCE and of the UN, whose principles it has pledged to uphold. (E.H./transl.jl)